Another load of bays successfully cleared of their compost by the crack team of Goodgymers after the 4th visit to West Bank Park in just over a couple of weeks

This time Ed took up the role of the man in the skip, helping to lift the barrage of barrows and position the compost where it needed to be

There were definitely some tired legs (and heads) out there today with David having completed an ultra over the weekend, Ed having done the Helmsley 10k and a few people spending a chunk of the previous day in the pub. But we got a load done before a few people headed on to a café for some well-earned tea and cake

This week's group run marked the start of GoodGym's new Workout for Nature campaign in association with the WWF. Surprisingly, the campaign does not involve wearing lyrca underwear and pretending fight so we had to give that a miss this week. Instead it aims to get people to take part in physical activity to benefit local green spaces. With that in mind we made the short journey to West Bank Park to help turn their compost bins back into a usable resource.

When we arrived, a fleet of wheelbarrows was waiting, along with a selection of tools. We all initially paired off (not like that) and then split into two groups to attack the different compost bins around the park. A pleasing selection of tools was available enabling us to free-form various methods to break up the compost and get it into the barrows.

The waste compost was barrowed to a giant skip where Pete adopted the role of site foreman and marshaled tipping the waste so it would fill the skip safelt and evenly. Initial skip runs were literally runs but the weight of the compost was such that these soon slowed down to a more sensible pace. Team one kept things interesting and local chiropractors in business by pulling their loaded barrows up some steps. Team two played with a dog. Badly.

The task seemed to fly by, especially for me as for once I was leading and not doing it. We made a good dint in both the compost bins but there is plenty left to go at for next week.

After the task, we did an animal themed group exercise in the park which was honestly much simpler than everyone made it look. Wildlife box ticked we headed back to Priory Street to enjoy the novelty of a cool down in daylight.

Five of us helped out at Holgate Community Garden's spring planting session. Jane prepared one of the beds and planted the sweet peas, spring onions and sunflower seeds. Cara and James weeded and the long bed around the mosaic and planted the two new rose bushes in the space. David dug in the bean poles and planted the broad beans and then moved the donated compost bins into place as new leaf bins in the basket ball court. Laura weeded and trimmed around the beds and coordinated the planting. There was also lavender, sage and strawberry plants planted and courgette and squash seeds planted in pots to go on windowsills until the summer. We didn't finish the areas to sow the marigold and cornflowers so these will be done in the May session.

on our first head torchless run of the year, we headed to Holgate Allotments.

We were met by Paul and tasked with breaking up an already flattened shed and carrying it to where it will be collected.

By using a range of techniques, including sawing and jumping, half the group completed the task, whilst the other half cut back brambles.

By the end the plot was in slightly better shape so hopefully it can now be let.

We then finished with a game of peg pinching with the prize of re usable cable ties. The enthusiasm for both the game and the ties varied but overall another good group run out.

Shout out to Jenna for the delicious baking back at base too!

Our last head torch group run for a while saw a bumper 26 GG Yorkies turn out for the choice of either soil inversion at Rowntree Park or prepping a flower bed at Southlands Church.

Knowing full well how difficult it can be organising a group of GGers (what is our collective noun?) at the end of a task, tonight started with a warm up which saw Ed introduce some of the exercises the gang would be doing later on as part of the fitness session. We then set off a steady group led by Nick to Southlands church, whilst Laura backmarked the bigger group which headed to Rowntree Park

After the brief run across we met Vicky at the task who had been left instructions by task owner Christine, who unfortunately couldn't be there tonight. Whilst Vicky is confident she got the details about the task correct, we're bot entirely sure that the tools were quite right as there surely must have been better options for shifting wood chip than a small bucket and two children's wheelbarrows! To her credit, Charlotte did make the most of the only full-size barrow, even if it was pretty broken

Whilst one group tackled the wood chipz the rest of the Rowntree Park crew cracked on with soil inversion at two designated areas. One proved significantly easier to get the spades in than the other so there were a few grumblings from Nikki when she was moved over to the tougher area, although her suffering didn't last long as she was handed a tiny wheelbarrow and joined in with the wood chip spreading

Over at Southlands Church....

The two groups came together at the end of the night for a fitness session (with some of the moves we'd rehearsed earlier). The workout featured 10 exercises, with 20 seconds rest between each one, and with each exercise being done for 30 seconds. Vicky was so disappointed that there was no can-can as one of the exercises that Ed caved-in and added a bonus exercise at the end. And this time we were determined to get it right. So after a quick tutorial from Leanne, everyone lined up, linked arms, and performed what felt like a perfect can-can. Although the video tells a much different story!